Questions & Answers
What causes my hair to fall out?
Both men and women have testosterone in the blood, but men have higher levels. The skin of the scalp converts testosterone to another substance called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Hair follicles in areas that are destined to become bald seem to be especially sensitive to DHT, and shrink when exposed to it. Follicles on the sides and back of the head are not affected by DHT.
Interestingly enough, DHT is necessary for growth of the beard and hair on the chest. This explains why bald men can have bushy beards and hairy chests. Nobody knows how DHT produces opposite effects on hair growth on different parts of the body.
Is there a pattern to baldness?
Receding hair is loss of hair at the sides of the forehead. It happens to most people, especially men, eventually - usually at or after middle age, but it can start at any time after puberty. Some men and women also have loss of hair on top of the head, and eventually only the sides and back of the head have hair, forming a horseshoe shape. This is known as common baldness, or androgenic alopecia. Surprisingly, if you were to view a balding scalp under a microscope you would see that there are the same number of hair follicles as before, but each is shrunken, producing hairs that are fine, short and pale. You would also note that a higher proportion than usual of the follicles are in the resting phase. Three factors are at work in baldness: hormones (testosterone), genetics, and ageing.
Can I inherit baldness?
Heredity (genetics) is important. If you have relatives with thin hair or who are bald, you may well develop the same problem. This tendency can be inherited from either the mother's or the father's side of the family and can skip generations.
Will I naturally go bald as I get older anyway?
Ageing makes baldness more likely. Forty percent of men have noticeable hair loss by age 35, and 65% by age 60. Though the problem is not as acute in women, thining is experienced by all women as they age. Most elderly people have thin, fine hair even if they are not noticeably bald.
How quickly will I go bald?
It is impossible to predict how quickly anyone will go bald, from when they start to notice significant hair loss. Most men take 15-20 years to become completely bald, but a few are completely bald after only a few years.
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